The >>> is the Python prompt. It indicates that the computer is waiting for us to give it a command.

Writing Programs

A program is a set of statements or instructions that tell the computer what and how it should execute a task. The following instructions tell the computer to print a statement using the print command:

In the code example above, x, y and words are all variables. Variables can store any data type. In the previous example, x and y store integers but the variable ‘words’ stores a string (any piece of text enclosed in quotes). You can see the value of the variable by simply writing the name of the variable at the prompt or by typing print ‘variable name’.

Using the Myro Module

Myro, which stands for My Robotics, is a software package developed by the Institute for Personal Robots in Education (IPRE). It is a platform designed to enable beginners to program robots while learning about computer science. It consists of several python modules that you will use to control your personal robots and carry out other tasks. To use the functions in the Myro library type the following:

>>> from myro import *

Try using the following myro functions:

speak("message") - computer will say the text message

getVoices() - get the list of available voices

setVoice("voice name") - set the voice to a named voice

getVoice() - get the name of the current voice

>>> speak("Today is the greatest day of my life")
Today is the greatest day of my life
>>> getVoices()
['MS-Anna-1033-20-DSK']
>>> getVoice()
u'MS-Anna-1033-20-DSK'
>>> setVoice('MS-Anna-1033-20-DSK')

Defining Functions

Python allows us to put a sequence of statements together in a function. Functions are defined using the following format:

def functionName(arg1, arg2, ...):
statement1
statement2
...

The keyword def is always used at the beginning of a function definition. This is followed by the name of the function and the function’s arguments (listed as arg1, arg2, … above) in parentheses. Arguments are input values that the function needs to perform a task.

Now it's time to create your own functions. Try the following. Feel free to modify the functions to create your own.

Note that you may need to press the TAB key to get speak() command to line up with setVoice(). Also, you need to press the ENTER key after speak() twice, to get back to the Python prompt.

Now that you have defined these functions, you can use them. Here is a mini play starring Romeo and Juliet:

>>> juliet("Hey Ro, where have you been?")
>>> romeo("Hey J, I was chillin")

Creating Python Modules

One problem with defining functions interactively at the Python prompt like this is that the definitions go away when we quit Python. If we want to use them again in the future, we have to retype them. Python allows you to create modules or files that contain your function definitions and other commands. This file is saved on a disk so that it can be used over and over again.

A module is just a text file that you can create in any editor such as Notepad and Microsoft Word (as long as you save your program as a ‘plain text’ file). Python files must be saved with a ‘.py’ extension so that the computer knows it is a python module. Let’s illustrate the use of a module by creating our own and running it.

You can put "comments" in a Python program, or module, by putting a pound-sign (#) on a line. Anything after the pound-sign is a message from you to other humans, not to Python.

You can open up python’s editor in IDLE by going to File>>New Window. Copy and paste the functions you have written into a new file and save it. You should add the '.py' extension to your file name when saving it. This tells the computer that it is a python file. Your module should look something like this:

Running a Python Module

To run a python module, go to Run>>>Run Module in your menu options as shown below:

Assignment 01

Submit Your Module: Print out a copy of the module you wrote and submit it to me by the end of class. If you are not done by the end of class, you can leave a copy of this module in the bin outside my office (Park 249). Please submit it by 5 pm of your lab day. Also, please include your name, lab group (A-E), and date of submission on this page.

Initial Reactions: How did you find the first lab? Was it manageable or overwhelming? You can write or type your initial reactions at the end of your module.

Readings: Read chapter 1 (“The World of Robots") of your text (Learning Computing with Robots). You will need to be familiar with this chapter in order to do lab 2.